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does anyone know if the new deal is compulsory? I had a letter from the job centre last week saying I had a meeting with an advisor tomorrow to discuss a plan of how to look for work etc. it doesn't say anywhere on there that you HAVE to go, they normally say they'll stop your benefits if you don't attend meetings. has anyone had any experience with this? thanks

Instead of signing on as normal, you will be given a New Deal advisor who will monitor you more closely. There will be lots more meetings, so you will be at the job centre more, usually around once a week. Just attend the meetings the advisor asks you do; it's pretty much the same thing you're doing now but more in-depth, but still easy.

However, they are about to put you on a course, either Options, Getting Back To Work, or some sugary name like that. This will be compulsary, and the only way out is to sign off or have a credible excuse (one guy in my course had to leave because his wife had a miscarriage; this is how much it takes). They usually last 3 to 5 months. They might disguise it as a college course, with a full "induction" - don't be fooled.

If I were you, I'd get a job ASAP or sign off the moment they hand you papers asking you to go on a course. It's a collossal waste of time and basically a punishment for being on benefits too long. You only get 5 days holiday and it lasts, generally, from 9am to 4pm. All you will do is sit in a room full of PCs, make a CV and apply to jobs. Or do quizzes. Or die inside. No personal music or reading was allowed for me. It was very much like doing time, but with happy smiley people patronising you all day.

but as I said, it's not that bad, just another level of screening you have to go through to get the same benefits as always. Also, don't lie on your papers about where you applied for a job. I did once during a busy week. The advisor checked the employer of each place. Lots more "meetings" to sit through because of that.